Cimiers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of headgear or helmet traditionally worn; a decorative crest or ornamentation found at the top of a helmet or heraldic symbol; an emblem symbolizing honor or rank that adorns the head
2. A specific form of headwear associated with historical or ceremonial use; an ornamental feature typically seen on chivalric helmets or coats of arms; a representation of nobility or distinction that tops a figure
3. A style of head protection used in combat or ceremonies; an artistic crest placed on a helmet or insignia; a distinguishing mark of authority or prestige often displayed on top of a figure

Etymology: "Cimiers" is the plural of "cimier", which comes from French, where the word denotes the crest or ornament on top of a helmet. Its roots lie in Latin "cacumen", meaning summit or peak, a sense that fits the object well: the crest rises above the head and gives the wearer's silhouette its height. The word's meaning follows that vertical logic. A cimier is the decorative piece that crowns a helmet, often a carved figure, animal or plume, and by extension it came to signify rank, since such crests marked out knights and noblemen in tournaments and on heraldic displays. Because the crest was the most visible part of a helmet at a distance, it became the emblem by which a person was recognised, which is why the term now also describes the figure topping a coat of arms.